The EU-Algeria Association Council on Monday, which is being held on the sidelines of the European Council of Ministers, is expected to ratify the common decision to change the bilateral association agreement as a result of Algiers highlighting the "imbalance" of its benefits for over two years.
According to EUROPE's sources, the two parties will approve two documents on Monday – one on "the implementation of the association agreement", and the other on the "priorities" of the 2020 common action. This session "will mark the move to a qualitative step in our comprehensive partnership", Algeria's ambassador in Brussels, Amar Belani, told Algerian media.
The framework will remain that of the "revised European neighbourhood policy" and its financial framework. A sum of €20 million will be available for a "support programme for implementation of the association agreement". Two other agreements will be signed – one for financing a "support programme for the development of renewable energy and the promotion of energy efficiency" (€110 million), and the other (€10 million) for a "public finance reform programme".
Also on the agenda are meetings between Algeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on the regional situation in Libya, Mali and the Sahel, as well on the prevention and fight against terrorism and radicalisation, and perhaps also on migration issues. Algiers is heavily involved in a mediation process being led by Libya's neighbouring countries.
A sensitive issue will doubtless be that of the Western Sahara. Algeria is making this the cornerstone of its diplomacy and intends to follow up on the ruling of the European Court of Justice last December which, in Algeria's opinion, establishes "a legal basis that no European leader can contest". According to Algeria, this "poses a problem for certain circles within the EU" who "want to find 'practical solutions' to "save appearances".
Through Belani's voice, Algeria warns against the "political and legal 'contortions'" that the EU is said to be seeking through "unacceptable arrangements" like "proposing any old [Sahrawi] local assembly" that can give the "consent of the people" needed for any exploitation of local resources, instead of the Polisario Front which Algeria fully and unreservedly supports. (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)